Hi ya'll. Just got back from my road trip consultations with Dr. BBL and Dr. Avanessian.

I'm struggling to decide between the two doctors. I thought I could list out a few of my observations and if anyone had an input I'd really appreciate it because I'm still unsure.

My consult with Dr. BBL was first and I am sort of unhappy with the consultation. This was a secondary consultation after my initial virtual consult. I felt sort of rushed in the consult. Dr. Zhao and Dr. BBL came in and spoke to me for about 4 minutes, asked if I had questions and left. I forgot to ask to see pictures (this is important) and was all the way back to my car and driving back out of NYC to my airbnb when I realized the only reason I had come to this appointment was to see pictures since they won't show them over a virtual consult. I drove back, waited an hour, and Dr. BBL flicked through photos for about 60 seconds with me before leaving again. It just felt... rushed. No description on how things were going to work no explanation of things in each photo to pay attention to, etc. I'm frustrated because from what I remember, the results all looked good, but I can't remember specifics about anything because I only saw each picture fore about 2.5 seconds before she flicked to a new one.

With Dr. Avanessian, it was the exact opposite. She was in my room going over photos, showing different patients at different stages of healing, and going over the things I should notice (for example one shouldn't expect a pink "hole" if they do not have pink skin). She pointed out so many things that I would't have thought to ask about during my consult with Dr. BBL that it made me sad I hadn't scheduled my BBL appointment after so I could have had reference of a good consult to know what sort of questions to ask when it came to pics.

Here is my toss up. From what I remember, Dr. BBL had good results, regardless of whether I can remember everything or not. That being said Dr Avanessian had pretty good results also and I worry the small disparity I'm remembering in results is because I just had more time to notice things when looking through results from Dr. Avanessian that I didn't have time to see with Dr. BBls results.

All that aside, I feel like I like the idea of Dr. Avanessians method because theoretically if something catastrophically bad happened, I could always go back and have a peritoneal pull through method to fix it. If I start off with that method it's game over if something awful happens. Dr. Avanessian is also scheduling sooner. I have an appointment in October (assuming my insurance comes through) whereas with Dr. BBL I can't even schedule my appointment until my insurance verifies they will cover (it's a whole big thing, I've got an attorney helping me since my employer is refusing to cover). I don't blame her, but it's annoying that she has a massive wait list and it's only getting longer while I sit and wait for my employer to come to a resolution.

What is everyone else experiencing when comparing these two? I feel like I hear a lot about how good Dr. BBL is, but is Dr. Avanessian good also? Not as good? Bad even? I know she isn't as experienced but has done a few hundred of these surgeries in the time she's been doing them.

I think if I were to choose a doctor just on my perception on who is more experienced and who may have the better result it would be Dr. BBL, but there is something to be said for being hurried through a consult. I don't feel confident in choosing her anymore.

Edit to add: This isn't meant to bash either doctor in any way but just to voice my concerns after consults. I really want help with making a decision. If you made this decision, or are making this decision, what factors are you considering?